There are some places that could take them.  I see Gaming clubs at colleges out here on sort of a resurgence and there is a use for the newer gaming education centers at universities that are starting to pop up.  These places often don't have a lot of role playing materials and are heavier into video games but they certainly have traditional game players and there is educational and design value in the materials for the gaming education centers. A new game club just started here at Temple last semester and I am on a campus wide faculty and staff group that is trying to get a game education center going here.  We are not the only ones getting these things moving.

I find this thread rather intriguing, mostly because it is all over the place.

While I believe I understand the original intent of thread, I always find it interesting to see the input of collectors and resellers, each with their own view of the RPG world.

There are aspects of "worth" that can be missed if you view this as super-collector or reseller only.   Even when people feel an item is "worthless", they are purchased for nostalgia, playability or for parts.  Everything has value to the right person.  Sure, it may be a waste of time for resellers to list and sell an item which had tens of thousands in a print run, but somebody is probably going to be looking at it at some point.

Hey, I'm not a super collector nor am I reseller (and I really doubt I could make a living selling this stuff) but speaking as a person who enjoys writing, playing, and GMing RPGs, I buy books because I love the games, art, and recalling those days of old.  Often, I could care less if it's worth more or less next year.

I'm sure I'll be smacked for adding my 2 cents but sometimes, members of this group try to make things so very black and white when it's awfully grey.  This reminds me of the Reaper Bones derailment thread too.

~throwi

rosenkav wrote in Worthless items.:We are discussing about a term. And I agree - we are talking of monetary value here, and not worth.
However, I do concur with the main theme of the discussions: there is lots of material that has no monetary value, especially because of poor condition and/or great amount of prints issued - and still have a tremendous playing/inspiration value.

Let's just clear about which kind of "value" we are talking about.

Nicely summarized.  I just hope we can turn this discussion into something productive.

benjoshua wrote in Worthless items.:So, a sticky thread like this could provide a valuable service AND occasionally steer sellers our way......
I vote Mars be the chief editor of such a sticky thread and we give him input on what should be included and excluded.  Go Mars!  :)

Badmike wrote in Worthless items.:.......I like a sticky thread on the subject. Especially educating people on the quality (condition) of items vis a vis value.  The same thing in comics, some guy thinks he has a gold mine until you point out all his 60s comics are dirty, dog-eared and colored in.  In general an item missing the poster map, with highlighting and massive spine wear is relatively valueless for resale purposes, it would be good to have a place to have that stated explicitly.

Mike B.

Of course, it is fun arguing about what's "worthless" or worthwhile.